— — Boom!!!
An invisible Aura erupted from Luffy's body!
Veins popped out on his fists, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
Yet, his eyes were incredibly firm, without a trace of fear!
At this moment, his declaration, like a sharp sword, pierced directly at Aokiji!
Robin's eyes widened as she stared blankly at Luffy, who stood in front of her, her heart trembling violently!
Her breathing was a little hurried, and her body trembled slightly.
She didn't know if it was due to fear or shock.
"Luffy..."
She whispered softly, her heart filled with an inexpressible emotion.
Her life had once been filled only with betrayal, escape, survival, and utilization—
But at this moment, someone stood before her, declaring without hesitation that he would protect her!
This ignited an indescribable emotion within her.
It made her unable to help but shed tears.
Aokiji remained calm, his deep gaze fixed on Robin, and his voice slowly echoed:
"The amount of a bounty doesn't just represent the level of strength..."
"It also represents the degree of a person's threat to the World Government."
"And Nico Robin..."
His voice paused slightly, then slowly revealed a startling fact:
"When she was only eight years old..."
"She had already become a criminal with a bounty as high as seventy-nine million Berries."
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes widened in shock!
"What?!!!"
Usopp looked at Robin with an expression of disbelief.
"Bountied at seventy-nine million Berries at eight years old?!!!"
Nami, Sanji, and Chopper's faces were also filled with astonishment.
They looked at Robin in shock, their hearts stirring with a monstrous wave.
Robin remained silent, her head lowered, her expression complex.
"Although... she was just a child then."
Aokiji's gaze remained fixed on Robin, a hint of an unknown emotion in his eyes.
"But she survived that inhumane massacre."
"Betrayal, escape, survival, utilization..."
"You relied on your quick wit to struggle and survive in the dark world."
Aokiji narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone carrying a hint of scrutiny and vigilance:
"This time..."
"These are the people you've chosen as your hiding place, aren't they?"
— — Boom!!!
Aokiji's words were like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely at Robin's heart!
Robin's pupils suddenly constricted, her face instantly turned pale, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes!
Her lips trembled slightly, as if the deepest fear in her heart had been exposed!
She knew... her entire life had been spent in darkness.
No matter where she was, she was always a hunted existence—
A threat that the World Government had deemed "must not survive"!
Now, she had merely changed places, changed groups of people... but... would it really be different?
Could she really continue to stay here?
Her heart, which had just begun to warm, and the bonds of companionship.
Could they continue?
Would they still accept her?
At this moment, Robin's heart was shaken like never before!!!
And the Straw Hat, standing in front of her, each person's face became incredibly solemn.
They finally realized—
Nico Robin, this enigmatic woman, her past... what heavy fate did she bear!
How much did her existence make the World Government wary!!!
The air was dead silent.
At this moment, Lin Ning slowly took a step forward.
His gaze was as sharp as a knife, looking directly at Aokiji, his voice cold and firm:
"Her past has nothing to do with us."
"She is now a companion of our Straw Hat."
"Even the World Government..."
"Will not take her away from us!"
— — Boom!!!
These words, like a bolt of lightning, echoed throughout the entire forest!!!
And illuminated Robin's inner world.
Aokiji quietly looked at Lin Ning, the expression on his face still indifferent.
The corner of his mouth curved into a meaningful arc.
"Oh my... This is really..."
"More troublesome than I imagined."
An invisible rage burned in the air!
Sanji suddenly stepped forward, pointing angrily at Aokiji.
Burning flames of fury blazed in his eyes, capable of incinerating this lazy Admiral!
"Hey, you brat, don't say such infuriating things!!"
"What kind of grudge do you have with Young Miss Robin?!"
Sanji's tone was aggressive, his face filled with anger and bewilderment.
But Aokiji still maintained his lazy demeanor, shrugging his shoulders, his tone indifferent:
"Grudge? Not really."
"But if you're talking about acquaintance..."
"It's probably... that I let her go once."
— — Let her go once?!
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions changed!
Robin's face turned even paler, her pupils suddenly constricted, and her body involuntarily trembled slightly.
Aokiji, however, seemed to be recalling something, his tone suddenly becoming distant.
"However, those are all things of the past."
He slowly scanned everyone, his voice deepening a few shades, carrying a disturbing implication:
"You will soon understand..."
"Before long, you will definitely regret having such a 'troublesome' woman by your side."
"The best proof is..."
"Up until now, any organization that has been involved with Nico Robin..."
Aokiji paused, then spoke a chilling truth in an undeniable, cold tone—
"All... perished."
Upon hearing this, Robin's breathing suddenly caught, and her body stiffened abruptly.
Her fingertips unconsciously curled, her face terrifyingly pale.
But Aokiji still stared at her calmly, then changed the subject, questioning in a low voice:
"Only you survived."
"Why is that, Nico Robin?"
His gaze was as sharp as a knife, piercing directly into the deepest fear and unease in Robin's heart!
Why...?
Why, every time, was she the only "survivor"?!
The air, at this moment, solidified!
Just then—
"Shut up!!!"
Luffy roared out, breaking the oppressive silence!!!
"This has nothing to do with what happened before!!!"
His fists were clenched tightly, his eyes incredibly firm.
His tone carried undeniable anger and determination!
Usopp also shouted loudly:
"That's right!!"
"If we're talking about the past..."
"We also have a pirate hunter on our ship, and one is even a thief!"
Before he finished speaking—
"Bang!!!"
Usopp screamed and was directly knocked to the ground by Nami's punch!
"That last part was unnecessary!!!" Nami roared, her face full of fury.
Zoro coldly glanced at Aokiji, his hand already on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
His tone was cold but carried an undeniable killing intent:
"Isn't what's happening now more important than what happened before?"
Chopper, even more so, bristled, standing in front of Robin and loudly roaring:
"Don't you dare speak ill of Robin!!!"
Lin Ning slowly took a step forward, his entire body brimming with Battle Intent.
His halberd was already in his hand, his Aura rising steadily, like a volcano about to erupt!
"Robin is an important companion of our Straw Hat Pirates."
"We will not allow you to slander her like this."
— — Boom!!!
A powerful killing intent rose from Lin Ning's body!
At that moment, everyone in the Straw Hat glared angrily.
Their gazes were as firm as iron, standing unyieldingly in front of Robin!